UPDATE: DPP questions immunity for soldiers six years after Keith Clarke's murder

Livern Barrett, Senior Gleaner Writer

The nation's chief prosecutor Paula Llewellyn has described the move by former Minister of National Security Peter Bunting to grant immunity to the three soldiers accused of killing businessman Keith Clarke as "a most unusual exercise of authority."

Llewellyn took issue with the fact that Bunting signed the certificates of immunity six years after Clarke was shot and killed inside his home in Kirkland Close, St Andrew.

Corporal Odel Buckley and privates Arnold Henry and Greg Tingling were set to go on trial for shooting Clarke to death on May 27, 2010.

However, before the trial started, Jamaica Defence Force attorney Paul Beswick revealed that the three soldiers were granted immunity through the certificates signed by Bunting.

READ: Bunting granted immunity to soldiers accused of Keith Clarke murder

"Accordingly, we say the defendants are immune from prosecution," Beswick asserted.

But Llewellyn, in her response, took issue with several aspects of the submissions made by Beswick.

She pointed out that the documents presented in court were photocopies and questioned why there was no accompanying affidavit from Bunting speaking to their authenticity.

"His affidavit would have to explain why he is signing these certificates when on the day Keith Clarke met his death Mr Bunting was not the Minister of National Security," she argued.

Llewellyn, the Director of Public Prosecutions, argued, too, that there was no evidence that the soldiers acted in good faith, as indicated in the certificates of immunity.

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